And he maintained the experienced stopper could well be the key that enables Arsene Wenger’s men to unlock the Premier League for the first time since 2004.

“The mental strength in this dressing room is the strongest it’s ever been and when you have the likes of Petr Cech come in he just enhances that,” he said ahead of the visit of Cech’s old club Chelsea to the Emirates on Sunday.

Arsenal's player ratings against Stoke

Sun, January 17, 2016

Express Sport brings you Arsenal's player ratings from their stalemate against Stoke

Express Sport brings you Arsenal's player ratings from their stalemate against Stoke

“He’s a leader. Petr’s lifted everybody’s heads up after the Stoke game saying this is a very good point as no-one tends to win here.

“We’ve just got to look at him because he’s been at the top level and won many things. We all have the belief he’s got that we can push on.”

Cech’s record as a serial collector of silverware is impressive. In his 11 seasons at Chelsea the Czech picked up four League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups, as well as Champions League and Europa League trophies.

Arsenal have looked significantly stronger this season with him shoring them up and his performance to deny Stoke was superb.

It was a point which proved enough for the Gunners to haul themselves ahead of Leicester on goal difference, and for all that Walcott admitted there was some disappointment at two matches in succession – against Liverpool at Anfield and now against Mark Hughes’s Potters – in which four points have been dropped, the forward was keen to put both into perspective.

“After the Liverpool game we’re looking back at two points dropped, and we always felt Stoke was going to be a tough match,” he said.

“But all the big clubs that have come here have always struggled and they [Stoke] have managed to get a positive result. There were a few mixed emotions but it’s probably a positive result on reflection.

“What it does show is how difficult this Premier League is. You can’t tell what’s going to happen this year, it’s just so tight. It’s probably going to be the most exciting Premier League for a neutral ever.

“No one can call it but we’re top of the league and we can be proud of that.”

Manager Arsene Wenger said he was confident Mesut Ozil will have recovered from his foot injury in time to face Chelsea this weekend and hopeful Alexis Sanchez will join him after a hamstring strain has kept him out for six weeks.